Landslide at Endicott Arm early Sunday causes tsunami in Southeast with waves up to 15 ft. high

Waves likely caused by "several tens of millions of cubic meters of rock striking the water"

Endicott Arm, circled in red, is where a landslide that triggered a tsunami across much of Southeast Alaska occurred Sunday morning, according to the Alaska Earthquake Center. (Google Maps image)

A landslide at Endicott Arm south of Juneau early Sunday morning caused a tsunami across much of Southeast Alaska with waves up to 15 feet high, according to the Alaska Earthquake Center.

"We are working with other agencies and colleagues to understand the full sequence of events, but at this point, all evidence suggests that this set of reported 10-15-foot high waves was set in motion by a landslide of several tens of millions of cubic meters of rock striking the water," the agency reported in a social media post. "We are working to confirm the exact location."

No deaths or major damage were reported from the tsunami that appeared to originate from Endicott Arm shortly after 5:30 a.m., according to the center. However, among those affected was a trio of nearby kayakers who sent out a social media plea for help at 11:36 a.m. that was reposted on the earthquake center’s Facebook page.

"We had an unfortunate incident on Harbour Island, where a landslide /iceberg caused a tidal surge and swept half of our gear away at Tracy Arm inlet," the message posted by Sasha Calvey of Inside Passage Sea Kayakers states. "We lost one boat, much of our personal gear, and a good chunk of our cooking equipment and group gear. All is good we headed to Juneau. We looking for a place to set up our tent or have a place to stay as we figure out the remaining of our logistics."

Calvey, in a text message to the Independent at about 7 p.m. Sunday, stated they had just arrived in Juneau after being picked up by the yacht Blackwood "who has helped us so much."

Endicott Arm is roughly 50 miles south of Juneau, just south of Tracy Arm and where Calvey’s group was hit by the tidal surge.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.